#24.

True Fellowship will Benefit from Diligent Leadership

Romans 12:68 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. We are finding that this verse has much to teach us about what to expect when brothers and sisters in Christ express true fellowship among themselves. So far, we have seen that there should be service, teaching, exhortation and giving. This time, we are looking at the gift of leadership and we want to understand what this has to do with fellowship. At first sight, it may seem difficult to see any relationship but we know that the gifts are given by God for the good of the whole church and are manifest primarily in fellowship. Have you ever witnessed an orchestra trying to play a piece with no conductor - especially a complex piece? Or have you seen a sports team trying to play with no coach and with no captain? In each case, while all the gifts may be present to play the piece wonderfully, or to win the game convincingly, this is unlikely to be the result. When the conductor is present, you see him calling on one section of the orchestra, or even on one musician, to play louder or to be more subdued. He keeps the whole in time and ensures that the contribution of each is what it needs to be for the good of the whole performance. The coach and the captain know the strengths and weaknesses of their team and are able to encourage more effort from some, or a redirection of effort from another. This is how leadership in the body affects fellowship - those whose gifts are not being expressed can be encouraged to make a greater contribution, whereas those who are tending to dominate things can be persuaded to tone things down a bit. If many in the body have (or want to express) the same gift, the result can be lopsidedness in the body. Important gifts can get overlooked, not because no-one has them, but because they would rather be functioning in other ways. Bringing balance to the expression of gifts in the body is a leadership role, and this will ensure that the fellowship of the body is also balanced and fruitful. See Paul doing this very thing for the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 12 and also here in Romans 12. Note, though, how Paul says this gift is to be exercise in the church - diligently. The word implies intense effort, and is also used to speak of earnestness. This is no small or unimportant task, then. Nor is it to be done for the self-aggrandizement of the one gifted to lead but, as in all these matters, the gift is given for the proper functioning of the whole body. If you have ever been part of a well-led team of some sort, you will know the very special feeling you get when you are part of a well balanced group in which each part is working in harmony with the others. There is progress, unity, and a subconscious understanding that you couldn't do without a single member of the team. It is the same in the church, blessed by God's Spirit and diligently led in this way - and to be present to contribute your gift to the overall activity and to sense that progress, unity and togetherness is a tremendous blessing, and a huge incentive for us to enjoy fellowship as a church!

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